Jumeirah has announced the appointment of Xander Labuschagne as general manager for Jumeirah Thanda Safari in South Africa.
Xander brings more than two decades of hospitality experience to his new role, with a career spanning humanitarian work, luxury safari lodges, residences and international operations across South Africa, Botswana, the UAE and Europe. Most recently, he served as general manager of Atzaro Cape Town – Boutique Hotel and was involved in Atzaro Okavango Camp in Botswana, overseeing procurement, operations, guest experience, commercial performance and project delivery. Before that, he served as food and beverage manager for UAE-based Etihad Airways.
Located in one of Southern Africa’s private Big Five game reserves in the KwaZulu-Natal province, Jumeirah Thanda Safari spans 16,500 hectares. At its centre is The Royal Thanda Club Estate, a 386-hectare private, access-controlled enclave. The estate is home to The Royal Thanda Club at Jumeirah Thanda Safari and five branded Jumeirah Residences. These are also joined by Villa iZulu, which sits within the wider game reserve.
At Jumeirah Thanda Safari, guests can participate in game drives, bush walks, starlit dining experiences and a junior ranger course for younger visitors, as well as benefit from wildlife experiences guided by expert trackers and cultural programmes that reflect Zulu heritage, with 90% of its staff hailing from neighbouring communities.
Jumeirah Thanda Safari is involved in conservation and sustainability initiatives such as landscape rehabilitation, alien vegetation removal, cheetah breeding and rhino protection through projects including Project Rhino KZN and the WWF Black Rhino Range Expansion Project. Through the Thanda Foundation Trust, it supports programmes such as Star for Life, a youth empowerment initiative that has reached over 500,000 young people in South Africa and Mafia Island in Tanzania. The reserve is accessible via King Shaka International Airport in Durban.
In December 2024, Jumeirah announced its entry into Africa with the opening of Jumeirah Thanda Safari and Jumeirah Thanda Island in Tanzania. The launch, in partnership with the Thanda Group, marks a significant milestone in Jumeirah’s growth journey.
